[CQ-Contest] RE: Clicks and splatter

[Pete Smith]

With his permission, I'm forwarding the following message I received today
from Michael Tracy, KC1SX, of the ARRL Lab.  I call your attention in
particular to the expanded test report for the IC-756, which includes
spectrum analyzer displays for several other radios.

Can one of the more technially-versed among us comment on how well this
test characterizes the "clickiness" of a given radio?  Should a test also
be run using split frequencies, to check for synthesizer issues?  Or RIt on
and off...?

I'd be interested to know how the FT-1000MP, FT-1000D and Omni 6+ would
compare under comparable conditions.

73, Pete N4ZR

 >Pete,
 >
 >> Have you been following the discussion on the CQ-contest reflector
 >> about key clicks and splatter (clicks in particular) in top-line
 >> contest rigs?
 >
 >Yes - although I don't regularly read any mailing list or newsgroup, I was
 >referred to this discussion by another HQ staff member.
 >
 >> What do you think the prospects are for the ARRL lab
 >> adopting a new test to measure this phenomenon,
 >
 >Actually, it wouldn't be new, just something we don't do regularly yet.  We
 >did it for the IC-756 (non-Pro) because there were reports of a problem with
 >this.  The results appear in the Expanded Report.
 >
 >> and perhaps including it in at least the
 >> expanded test results?
 >
 >I've already made plans to do this regularly for "high-end contest rigs" and
 >hope to (time permitting, in the not-too-distant future) check some rigs of
 >this genre that we've already reviewed in the past to see if I can unearth
 >some of the problems.
 >
 >> but it all depends on HQ's willingness to listen.
 >
 >We are always willing to listen to reports of frequent problems and check
 >into them.  This is limited by the capability of our test equipment array,
 >so not all of Tom's proposals can be implemented in the ARRL Lab at this
 >time (for example, his syllabic-varying SSB test is one we do not have the
 >capability to do at present).
 >
 >73, Michael Tracy, KC1SX, ARRL Lab
 >
 >
 >


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